EY names 10 winners for regional Entrepreneur of the Year awards

Program recognizes innovation, financial performance, commitment to community

A group of Michigan-based entrepreneurs took home the honors, announced Wednesday night at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Ten Michigan entrepreneurs were selected Wednesday as winners of Ernst & Young LLP's annual Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Michigan and northwest Ohio.

Winners of the recognition this year, celebrated at the Detroit Institute of Arts, include nine male entrepreneurs and one female. Eight are from Southeast Michigan companies, including two from Detroit, and the other two are from Grand Rapids.

Here is a list of winners:

Joe Hessling — 365 Retail Markets (Troy)

Jim Teets — ADAC Automotive (Grand Rapids)

Joey Agree — Agree Realty Corp. (Bloomfield Hills)

Jason Wenk — FormulaFolio Investments (Grand Rapids)

Damien Rocchi — Grand Circus Detroit LLC (Detroit)

Jeanne Jeup — Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (Northville)

Matt O'Bryan — KLA Laboratories Inc. (Dearborn)

Larry Brinker Jr. — L.S. Brinker Co. (Detroit)

Brad Oleshansky — M1 Concourse LLC (Pontiac)

Bill Reminder — Truck Hero Inc. (Ann Arbor)

"We are proud to announce the 2018 winners, who boldly break the mold to create new solutions, innovations and possibilities that redefine how we live, work and play," said Debra von Storch, the program director.

London-based EY selected 29 finalists for this year's awards. The business leaders were selected by a panel of independent judges. The recognition does not come with a money award.

In its 32nd year, the program recognizes entrepreneurs who excel in innovation, financial performance and commitment to the community. Honorees last year included more than a dozen up-and-coming business people.

Regional award winners are considered for Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards, with those winners to be announced Nov. 10 in Palm Springs, Calif. Winner of the national award moves onto the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Monaco next year.